Jason & Jana: Math, Somebody Had to Create it (S2 E14)

Kites and Strings

On the show today are two Mathies who overwhelmingly convince Catherine and Steve that Mathing is a creative endeavor, despite it's bad wrap in the creative world. Jason Hartline is a Computer Science Professor at Northwestern University, and works in the world of teaching applied mathematics and his path has taken him through Cornell University and the University of Washington, with stops at Microsoft and Harvard. He has a couple patents under his belt and too many publications and papers to mention in polite company.
Jana Frank's work is equally impressive and important, as she optimizes learning in another corner of the math universe. Jana is an owner of four Chicagoland Mathnasiums and expert in the Mathnasium Philosophy, that stands behind a very successful and effective math-only learning center for kids in grades Pre-K through 12. Mathnasium's approach is all about helping kids really understand math by making it fun. This takes significant understanding and creativity. Previously, Jana taught math in Jr high as well as 4th and 5th grade in the Chicago Public Schools. She has degrees in developmental psychology and a Masters in education.
In this episode we learn that Jason and Jana are amazing and create in the world of circus and aerial arts. But today, rather than dig into their high-flying circus work, we explore creativity through the math lens. Both Catherine and Steve learn just how creative one can be in math with the help of two experts who you will soon learn, bring incredible passion to their work.
Additionally, both Catherine and Steve reveal new sides of themselves suggesting that grabbing their strings and flying their kites in the way similar to that of Jason and Jana is not completely out of the question.
The Alan Turing article referenced in this episode - Computing Machinery and Intelligence

Jason Hartline - https://sites.northwestern.edu/hartline/
Jana Frank - Mathnasium, Oak Park/River Forest, IL
https://www.facebook.com/MathnasiumOPR
Mathnasium, LaGrange, IL
Mathnasium, Mount Prospect, IL
Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
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Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com